ANGELS NOTEBOOK: BAKER'S EFFORT BLACK-BALLED.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer ANAHEIM - The World Series might be three days away, but the games already have begun. On Sunday afternoon, a day before San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden beat St. Louis in Game 5 to win the National League pennant, Giants manager Dusty Baker
Black grew up in the Bay Area as a Giants fan and played for the team from 1991-94. ``He wouldn't tell me too much,'' Baker told reporters. ``I was congratulating him on getting there, but it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to do a little spying work at the same time. He wasn't falling for it.'' The Angels and Giants did not play in interleague play Interleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in 1997. Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season. this season. The Angels played teams from the NL Central and the Giants played teams from the AL East. In 2001, the Angels played three games at Pacific Bell Park and were swept by the Giants. Overall in interleague play, the Giants have won 11 of 16 games. --The Kennedy factor: Angels manager Mike Scioscia Adam Thomas Kennedy (born January 10, 1976 in Riverside, California) is a Major League Baseball player. He currently plays second base for the St. Louis Cardinals. Kennedy attended J.W. against Giants left-hander Kirk Rueter, who is scheduled to pitch in Game 4, but at least he's considering it. Scioscia has been true to his lefty-righty platoon of Kennedy and Benji Gil most of the season, but Kennedy is making it difficult to take him out of the lineup. His three home runs in Sunday's Game 5 clincher clinch·er n. 1. One that clinches, as: a. A nail, screw, or bolt for clinching. b. A tool for clinching nails, screws, or bolts. 2. in the American League Championship Series
``You've got to like that about Mike,'' Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. ``He goes by the book, but he's not afraid to change things up.'' --A year ago: Last season, Angels third baseman Troy Glaus watched a playoff game from the seats in St. Louis. Right fielder Tim Salmon went to a World Series game in Phoenix. This year, they don't have to imagine what it would be like being on the field. ``I remember thinking that this is so awesome for Arizona,'' said Salmon, who lives in the Phoenix area during the offseason. ``I wasn't screaming like the fans around me, I was just observing. ``But I was thinking, could you ever imagine this happening in Anaheim? It's neat from the outside looking in and what it does for a community.'' --Wild times: The 1997 Florida Marlins and the 2000 New York Mets
``Once you get in the playoffs and get this far, it doesn't matter how you got there,'' Scioscia said. ``It's the same for division winners; it doesn't matter if you win the division by one game or 30 games.'' The Angels are the first wild-card team from the American League to reach the World Series. --Hurry up and wait: The Angels will have had five days between games once they play Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday, but they said they believe the layoff won't hurt them. ``I don't think it'll affect our edge,'' Scioscia said. ``We've got guys banged up a little, and this will help them. It also lets us reset the pitching rotation.'' The Angels offense, though, has been as hot as it's been all season, but center fielder Darin Erstad said there will be no excuses. ``If you haven't found your swing after 170 games ...'' he said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: BUD BLACK Angels pitching coach wouldn't volunteer any information to Giants manager Dusty Baker. |
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